Misdiagnosis
from depression to Bi-Polar
In 2011 I was diagnosed with depression. I was a caregiver to my father at this time and didn't sleep much. Right after he was put in a home, I was put on Cymbalta 60 mg. and Xanax 1 mg for anxiety and depression. The Cymbalta is a very expensive medication and I was found to be able to get my medication from the company. The Xanax helped me to get sleep.
I took my Cymbalta for five years until recently it decided to quit working. It is horrible to go back to feeling like you did before you started the med. I went to my prescribing doctor and he was surprised that it quit working. My husband helped me to explain to him how I was feeling and how I was acting. After we told him, how I was acting and feeling he told me and my husband that I had Bi-Polar. This didn't take me by surprise as my mother had been Bi-Polar back when you didn't mention those types of things so she never had medication.
I knew I didn't want to ever act the way she had so I was ready to do anything to get it under control. I started a new medication which is helping. The Cymbalta is still in the mix because it is also a pain killer for arthritis. My husband has noticed that my temperament and pain has changed. I heard that Cymbalta is not good for people because it can cause all kinds of problems.
Cymbalta supposedly causes damage to the organs of the body. It can cause memory loss but I have decided to way the good against the bad. Unless I see any problems with my body I will continue to take it. I did find out when my back started to act up that you can not take pain killers with this med. In my case, I ended up in the emergency room for GI bleed.
I have to be checked once a month to see how my new medication is working. I hope and pray that I never ever act like my mother. She started arguments for no reason. My husband and I have been married for almost five years and only one time did I get mad. It was just a misunderstanding. It helps when you have mental problems to have someone by your side who loves you.